This album is topping best of lists the world over, and with good reason. Its release
was highly anticipated for two reasons: the first, Ocean (born Christopher Breaux)
is good. Before he even started thinking about his debut mixtape, Nostalgia ULTRA,
he was busy making a name for himself through working with heavyweights such as
Nas, Pharrell Williams and Beyonce. He's also the hook man for OFWGKTA. Secondly,
he timed his coming out as bisexual to perfection the week beforeChannel
Orange's release but I'm only going to focus on the former, as the album doesn't
need to rely on social media tactics to show how good it really is.

The mountains in the distance look so fake I can't believe it's not real mountains;
I tried your cocaine, just to know what it could do / I had to try it again, just to
give it a second chance; I'm gettin' tired of the freefall / I'm lookin' forward to the
spring; lyrical gems such as these are liberally sprinkled throughout, standing out
like moments of revelation. As a whole, the album comes off as a spirited drive
through a person?s second coming of age ? the exuberant naivety of irresponsible
youth is gone, and one?s years and experiences combine to provide a richer, more
thoughtful and nuanced perspective on a tomorrow that is as open and unsure as
ever.

Not many can use the grand piano like Gang Colours. Will Ozanne utilizes his skill
well on his first album The Keychain Collection. Though mainly R?n'B, Garage and
House-based, many of the tracks are sprinkled with beautiful piano rhythms. Out on
Giles Peterson?s Brownwood and based out of Southhamton in the UK, Gang Colours
has carved a niche for himself within the buzzing electronica scene, not a million
miles from James Blake, but with a decidedly more dancefloor groove. On this, his
debut, he illustrates exactly what he is capable of, at times expertly flexing his
electronica muscle, and other times exploring his more classical side.

Kendrick Lamar ? a man reviving hip hop, straight off them ?killa streets?, paying
tribute to his educators along the way. These educators quickly became
collaborators for Lamar; Dr. Dre, Warren G and Talib Kweli, three men considered hip
hop gods, from back when hip hop still felt like a religion. Nas said hip hop was dead
in 2006 and he was right, and was even a little late in saying so. Thankfully, a
revival is in full swing thanks to young guns like Lamar, A$AP Rocky, Danny Brown,
Flying Lotus? latest project, Captain Murphy, and Lamar?s label mate Schoolboy Q.
These rappers talk about things that matter to the listener, and that for me is what
hip hop was built on, a cultural movement. Long may it continue.

As a new generation falls head over heels in love with folk/roots music and anybody
with a beard and a guitar is looked at as a potential star, the wheels of this bloated
bandwagon begin to creak and moan. That?s of no interest to David Newberry,
who?s veered off in his own musical direction, far away from the yawn-worthy, well-
worn path of easy, unadventurous folk.

Hailing from where other than Vancouver BC, this two-piece shot to critical acclaim
with their 2009 debut Post-Nothing. Full of teenage rocker anthems, they quickly
became a much loved band the world over. Being a two-piece can somewhat limit a
band in terms of the songs they write/perform, but Japandroids make it look easy.
They get loud, energetic and shouty a lot, similar to the way the Black Keys used
to back in the early 2000s.

The marriage of ringing notes, powerfully fuzzy guitars, pensive lyrics and of drums
that are excitingly unafraid of both silence and chaos makes for a tense, immersive
and hard-rocking affair that is too damn good to go unnoticed.

Long gone are the oft-lamented days of At The Drive-In and, as of the end of this
year?sNoctourniquet tour, perhaps also gone are the days of the Mars Volta. he
Mute? It?s a difficult question to answer, considering Mars Volta?s overall
discography, which has rarely not been daring, new, and supremely creative; the
Volta?s latest may be dwarfed by the greatness of its predecessors. In any case,
whether it?s considered on its own or put up against the band?s previous work,
Noctourniquet is a dense, spicy aural feast of experimental jazz, rock and latin
sounds that should not be ignored.

Just getting into these guys (I know, sometimes I am late with this sort of thing).
This is their first album and the one I seem to enjoy most. I love that the
musicians come from all different backgrounds to come together and create a fresh,
new sound.

I know some people don?t really like Pablo Honey, but I think it has held up pretty
well. It is no OK Computer or Kid A, but the band was at a different state then.
There are some great fun songs on this album. I?ve have some great memories of
listening to this album.

being from Vancouver and listening to this track while travelling abroad (preferably during Vancouver's rainy months.....so anytime between January and December) is honestly one of the best feelings ever.

Pablo Honey being your favourite Radiohead album is like Jeb being your favourite Bush. Like, yeah he's decent and it was pretty fucking awesome when he stole Florida for his cuz, but the Georges started fucking WARS man. They got niggas KILLED. Blood for oil emslash.